Signal system for elevators



July 16, 1935. F. E. LEWIS 2,008,397

SIGNAL SYSTEM FOR ELEVATORS Filed Aug. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l BUZZER INVENTOR Fran/fE. Lewzs.

W 1. ATT EY Patented July 16, 1935 PATENT OFFICE SIGNAL SYSTEM Frank E. Lewis, Chicago,

FOR ELEVATORS Ill., assignor to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application August 21, 1931, Serial No. 558,527

17 Claims.

My inventionrelates to flash signal systems for elevators and more particularly to such systems as embody means for indicating the existence of registered calls for service.

In many modern elevator systems, the cars are operated from terminal to terminal on a predetermined schedule during the day time. At night or when trafiic is light and it is not necessary to run the cars continuously, they are usually parked at the bottom, and a night bell or buzzer is connected by a switch to the signal system so that upon the registration of a call for service at any of the landing floors the bell will ring to notify the attendant on duty that he should run thecar to the floor at whichthecall exists. Heretofore, in addition to the night bell or buzzer, it has been customary to mount an annunciator in one or more of the cars to indicate the floor at which the registered call exists, so that the night attendant may know exactly which floor to run to in answering a registered call. The use of an annunciator requires at least two wires for each floor, which, in very tall buildings, requires a large number of wires running to the car.

In my improved system, I propose to provide a night buzzer that may be connected to the signal system for calling the attention of the night attendant to the registration of calls for service, and to also dispose in each car a pair of indicating devices, such as an up lamp and a down lamp for indicating whether the registered call is above or below the car, assuming that the cars are standing at their parking floor. With this system, a night attendant upon hearing the buzzer can enter any car and start on a trip in the direction of the registered call. As soon as he answers the call, the up or down signal lamp will be restored to its non-indicating condition, and the attendant will bethereby informed that no more registered calls exist. If in the meantime any additional call is registered above or below the car, the up or the down signal lamp will so inform the operator.

Very often during the day time, the traflic will not be suificient to warrant running the cars according to a predetermined schedule. In such cases, the up and down signals may be connected to the signal system and the cars operated as they are at night.

rthermore, my improved system may be employed to advantage in rush hours when passengers are leaving the building in large numbers at about the same time. In such instances, the operation of the cars on a predetermined schedule may be abandoned and the cars simply run to the farthest call, as indicated by the up or the down signal device, and then returned to the unloading floor.

The object of my invention, in general, is to provide a system for indicating the existence of registered calls for service which shall be simple in operation and easily installed and maintained.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide a signal system of the character indicated in which the number of Wires or indicators necessary for its operation may be reduced to a minimum.

Other objects of my invention will, in part, be obvious, and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figures 1 and 2 collectively constitute 2. diagrammatic representation of the circuits and apparatus of an elevator signal system embodying my invention.

Fig. 3 is a straight line diagram of the circuit for the relays which control the operation of the up and the down signal lamps.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I have illustrated therein a signal system for a pair of elevator cars A and B to be operated in their respective hatchways (not shown) between a plurality of floors by car attendants in the usual manner. While only two cars are shown, as opcrating between five floors it will be understood that my system may be applied to any number of cars operating between any number of floors.

The cars are shown as provided with a flash signal system in which a stop signal lamp is disposed on each of the cars for indicating to the attendant when a stop is to be made to take on passengers. The stop signal lamp on car A is designated as AL, and that on car B as BL.

In order that waiting passengers at the floor landings may cause the stop signal lamps in the cars to be operated to indicate a stop as the cars approach their floors, push buttons ID, 2D, 2U, 3D, 3U, 4D, 4U and EU are located at the floor landings in position to be operated by the waiting passengers.

' Associated with passenger operated push buttons are push button relays I DR, ZDR, ZUR, 3BR, SUR, dDR, EUR. and 5UP: for maintaining the calls after the buttons are pressed until they areanswered, thereby making it unnecessary for the passengers to hold the buttons in a depressed condition until the cars make the answering stops. Thus it will be seen that the push buttons and associated relays provide a means whereby the is provided for energizing the buzzer. vmary coil of the transformer may be connected to segments.

passengers may register a stop call and then wait until some car answers it.

Each of the push button relays is provided with two energizing coils wound in opposition to each other in such manner that one of the coils when energized causes the relay to be actuated to close its contact members, while the operation of the other coil opposes the effect of the first coil and thereby causes the relay to be restored to its normal condition.

In accordance with my invention, each car is provided with an up signal device and a down signal device for indicating to the car attendant that a registered call exists above or below the car, and that he should move the car in that direction to answer such call. The up and the down signal devices are illustrated as an up panel and a down. panel disposed in front of corresponding electric lamps so that when a lamp is energized, the corresponding direction .wordjwill be illuminated. The -up lamp in car vAv is designated as AU and the down lamp as AD. In car B, the up lamp is EU and the down lamp BD. For convenience, these lamps will, be called night lamps.

A switch 52 in car A and a switch 53 in car B are provided for connecting the night lamps to the signal system when desired.

- A pair of relays M and i are provided for controlling, the night lamps AU and AD in car A, andasecond pair of relays l6 and H are provided for controlling the night lamps BU and B1) in car 33.

At night or when there is practically no tramc,

it,is a usual practice to park the cars at the exit terminal and leave only one attendant to answer such occasional calls as may occur. In order to -call the attention of such attendant to the fact that a passenger has registered a call for service .at the parking station or in one of the cars, for

instance as shownin car A. A transformer T The pria suitable source of alternating electric current (not shown) and the secondary coil is disposed in a circuit which is common to both the push buttons and the buzzer. adjacent to the transformer for connecting it to A switch 29 is provided its source of powerwhen the buzzer is to be placed in service.

In order that the various circuits for the push buttons and the signal devices may be connected for operation in accordance with the movements of the cars, the cars A and B are provided, respectively, with floor selectors FSA and F33. The floor selectors are similar to those usually employed in elevator signalling systems and may be located in any suitable place such as in the pent house.

The selector FSA is provided with a set of up contact segments and a set of down contact The up contact segments are arranged in groups under brushes CU, DU and EU and the down contact segments are arranged in PS3 is provided with up contact segments arranged in groups under brushes, MU, NU and OU and down contact segments arrangedin groups under brushes RD, SD and TD that are mounted upon a ,movable arm MD.

CU connects the flash signal lamp AL in car A with the fioor push buttons. The group includes a. contact segment for each of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th

and 5th floors and a continuous strip that is electrically connected to the signal lamp AL.

The group of contact segments under the brush DU connects the circuits for restoring the push button relays, and includes a continuous strip connected to the supply conductor L2 and contact segments for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th floors.

The group of contact segmentsunder the brush FU is provided for connecting certain circuits controlled by the push button relays for controlling the lighting of the"up night lamp.

The up side of selector FSB for car B is simi-v lar to thatfor car A; The down'side of each selector comprises a duplicate of up contact members except for a reversalof the order of the contact segments and a slight change inthe relative position of the various groups to compensate for the different direction in which the car approaches the floor. H a

It should be noted here that the brushes FU and HD on the floor selector FSA leading to the night lamp relays M and I5 are mounted on springs which cause these brushes to bear continuously upon the contact segments under them, regardless of the direction of operation of the car. The brushes 0U and RD on the floor selector FSB are also mounted upon springs so that they will continuously bear upon the contact segments thereunder, regardless of the direction of operation of the car. I

For convenience, the invention is described in connection with a flash signal system, but it may be applied just'as readily to a signal control system wherein the operation of a floor push button at a'floor landing by an intending passenger serves to stop the car when it arrives at that fioor in the corresponding direction. Inasmuch as such a signal control system is disclosed in my co-pending application, Serial No. 388,310, filed August 26, 1929, and assigned to the Westinghouse Electric &'Mfg. Company, no further description of it will be given here. 1

The invention may be understood best by an assumed operation thereof. Assuming that the cars A and B are being operated under a predeterminedschedule without the night lamps or night buzzer being connected to the signal circuit, that car Ais' moving upwardlyand that an intending passenger at thethird floor, desiring to board an up moving car, presses the up push button 3U, then a registered call will exist to light the signal lamp AL in the caras the car nears the third floor. to indicate to the attendant that he should stop the car at the third floor.

The pressing of the push button 3U registers the stop call by energizing the push button relay .BUR through a circuit extending from a source .of direct current represented by the supply conductor Ll throughconductor 8B, the secondary coil of transformer T, conductor 3i, buzzer 20,

conductor 32,,the contact members of push but- .of the transformer T coil of the buzzer is ton 3U, conductor 33, the holding coil 34 of relay 3UR and conductor to the supply conductor L2.

It should be noted here, that the secondary coil and the coil of the buzzer 29 are always in series with the circuit through the contact members of the push buttons, but that the so designed that it will not operate the buzzer on the direct current that flows through it when the button is pressed, but that it will operate the buzzer upon operation of the push button when the switch 2% is closed to energize the transformer T and cause an alternating current to be impressed upon the buzzer circuit.

The energization of the push button relay 3UR closes its contact members a to complete a selfholding circuit for itself extending from the supply conductor Ll through conductor 31, contact members a of relay BUR, conductor 38, the coil 34 and conductor 35 to the supply conductor L2.

The energization of the push button relay SUB also energizes the contact segment on the floor selector FSA and the contact segment 48 on the floor selector FSB. As car A approaches the third floor, its brush CU completes a circuit for li hting the signal lamp AL in the car to warn the at tendant to make the third floor stop. This circuit extends from supply conductor Ll, through conductor 37, the contact members a of relay SUR, conductor 4 I, contact segment 4!], brush CU, contact strip 12, conductors 43 and 44, the signal lamp AL, and conductor 45 to supply conductor L1.

As car A comes to a stop at the 3rd floor, its brush DU engages the contact strip 49 and thereby completes a circuit for restoring the push button relay SUR to its normal condition, which circuit extends from supply conductor Ll through conductor 3'! the contact members a of relay 3UR, conductor 33, restoring coil as, conductor 5|, contact segment 49, brush DU, contact strip 52 and conductor 53 to supply conductor L2. The energization of restoring coil 5!] overcomes the energized coil 35 and releases the relay 3UR to its normal position in which its contact members a are open,

Thus, it is seen that the cars may be operated under the flash signal system without the. night buzzer or the night lamps.

Assuming now that practically all of the tenants have left the building and that the cars are parked at the lower or exit terminal with only one attendant to answer such calls as may occasionally occur. Under these conditions the switch 2|, at the transformer T, should be closed to supply alternating current to the transformer so that the pressin of a push button by a passenger at a floor landing will operate the buzzer. The switches l 2 and I 3 are also closed for connecting the up and the down night lamps in the cars to the signal system.

Assuming now, that a floor, desiring passenger at the fourth to travel upwardly, presses the up button 4U to register call for service at that floor. The pressing of the button 4U effects the operation of the buzzer 29 to call the attention of the attendant to the existence of a registered call for service, it also effects the lighting of the up lamp AU in car A and the up lamp BU in car B to indicate that the call is above the cars and it also prepares a circuit for lighting the stop signal lamp in the first car to approach in the direction of the call.

The closing of the contact members on button 4U completes a circuit for energizing relay 4UR which extends from supply conductor Ll through conductor 30, the secondary coil of transformer T, conductor 3 l, the coil of buzzer 20, conductor 32, the contact members of push button 4U, conductor 55, the holding coil 56 of relay AUR and conductor 51 to supply conductor L2. This circuit operates the relay, but inasmuch as the buzzer coil is so designed as not to be aifected by the direct current flowing through the push button circuit, the buzzer will not yet be operated.

The closing of the contact members a on the relay 4UR also completes a circuit through the secondary coil of the transformer T for operating the buzzer 20, which circuit extends from the secondary coil of the transformer T through conductor 3f, the coil or buzzer 25, conductor 32, the contact members of push button 4U, conductors 55 and 59, the contact members a of relay lUR and conductors 58, Li and 30 to the secondary coil of the transformer T. Inasmuch as the switch 2! to the transformer T is closed, an alterhating current will be induced in the circuit just described sufilcient to operate the buzzer 29 as long as the button is pressed and thereby notifies the night attendant that a registered call exists.

closing of the contact members a on the relay 1172 also completes a self-holding circuit for that relay extending from supply conductor Li through conductor 58, contact members a of relay lUR, conductor 55, coil 56 and conductor 5! to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a of button relay iUR also energizes the up contact segment 6! on the floor selector FSA and the up contact segment 82 on the floor selector FSB to effect the lighting of the stop signal lamp in that car which first approaches the fourth floor, in the direction of the call.

The operation of the relay tUR also opens its normally closed contact members I) and c for the push purpose of causing operation of the up night lamps AU and BU. When no registeredstop call exists, the night lamp relays l4, l5, and H are maintained in an energized condition by circuits which extend through normally closed contact members on the push button relays. up or a down stop call is registered, it deenergizes the corresponding night lamp relays which, in turn, close their contac" members to light the corresponding ni ht lam s For instance, when both cars are at the lower floor, the

circuit for maintaining up night lamp relays it and 58 in an energized condition extends from supply conductor Ll through conductors $5 and contact mem ers Z) of relay EUR, conductor E? he contact members b of relay SUB, conductor "5, the. contact members '0 of relay 5BR, conductor 59, the contact members I) of relay EUR, conductor the -tact members b of relay SDR, conductor ii, the contact members in of relay conductor '12, the contact members 2; of relay ZDR and conductor "[3 to junction point '54, one branch extending through conductor l5, contact segment on selector FSA, contact brush FU, conductor Si, the coil of night lamp relay M, and conductor 82 to supply conductor L2; and the other branch extending from the junction point l4- through conductor 8-5, the contact segment 85 on floor selector the contact brush OU, conductor 92, the coil of relay l5 conductor 92 to the supply conductor L2. Thus, bot-l relays rema n energized and thereby prevent lighting of the up night lamps until a call for service isregistered on the push buttons,

The circuit including the conductors 61, 68, 69, lo, 1i and 72 leading to the up night lamp re- When an 3' lays M and I6 may be called the energized above circuit. 7 The circuitincluding the conductor I25 leading to the down night lamp relays I5 and Il may be called the energized below circuit.

If the cars move upwardly, the circuit for maintaining the up night lamp relays in an energized condition is transferred from contact segment to contact segment by the brush EU and the brush OU. The contact segments under the brushes FU and U are electrically connected to the push button relays, in such manner as toeliminate the relays for the lower floors from the circuit as the cars move upwardly as will be plainly seen by reference to the straight line diagram of Fig. 3.

Referring again to the energization of the relay 4UR, the opening of its contact members b opens the circuit for energizing the up night lamp relays Hi and I6, thereby deenergizing these relays and closing their contact members to light the night lamps.

The closing of the contact members on relay I4 for car A completes a circuit for lighting the up night lamp in car-A, which extends from supply conductor LI through conductor 95, the contact members of relay I4, conductor 96, night lamp AU, conductor 9i, switch i2 and conductor 55 to supply conductor L2.

The deenergization of the night lamp relay l causes the up night lamp BU in car B to be lighted by a circuit which extends from supply conductor LI through conductor I M, the contact members of relay l6, conductor IQI, lamp BU, conductor H32, switch it and conductor I03 to supply conductor L2. Therefore, the up night lamps AU and BU in the cars A and B, respectively, are lighted to indicate that a registered stop call for service exists at a floor above the car, just which floor is not indicated but the attendant can enter one of the cars and run up until the stop signal lamp in the car lights to indicate the floor at which the call exists.

Let us assume that the attendant enters car B and runs it upwardly to answer the registered call, as the car moves upwardly the brush 0U on floor selector FSB leaves contact segment 85 corresponding to the first floor and successively engages the contact segments 86 and 81 for the 2nd and 3rd floors to maintainthe illumination of the up night lamp in car 13.

As car B nears the fourth floor, the flash lamp brush MU 'on the floor selector FSB engages the energized contact segment 62 and thereby completes a circuit for lighting the flash signal lamp BL in car B, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductor 58, the contact members a of relay lUR, conductor H08, contact segment 62, brush MU, contact strip I09, conductor 43, lamp BL, and conductor N33 to supply conductor L2.

The lighting of the flash signal lamp BL causes the operator to stop the car at the 4th floor landing. As the car comes to a stop at the 4th floor landing, the restoring brush NU bridges the contact segment IE? and the contact strip Ill], thereby completing a circuit for energizing the restoring coil III of push button relay QUE to overcome the holding coil 56 and restore the relay to its inactive position. This circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductor 58, the contact members a, of relay iUR, conductor 59, restoring coil III, conductors IlZ-and IE3, contact segment IB'I, brush NU, contact strip 5 I8 and conductor I Is to supply conductor L2.

The restoration of the push button relay lUR to its normal inactive position closes its contact members I) and thereby completes the previously described circuit for again energizing the night lamp relays M and I5, thereby opening the'circuits for the up signal lamps AU and BU in the cars A and B.

Assuming now that while car B is in the upper part of its hatchway, a waiting passenger at the second floor landing presses the up button 2U at that landing, then a stop call will be registered to stop the car at that floor on its next up trip and the down night lamp BD in car B will be lighted to indicate to the attendant that a registered call exists at a floor landing below the car. If the night lamps in car A, at the first floor, are still connected to the signal system, the up lamp AU in that car will also be lighted to indicate the existence of an up stop call.

The pressing of the button 2U completes a circuit for energizing the push button relay ZUR, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductor 38, a secondary coil of transformer T, conductor 3I, buzzer 2il, conductor 32, the contact members of up push button 2U, coil I i5 of relay EUR and conductor I it to supply conductor L2. 7

Upon being energized, the relay ZUR closes its contact members a and opens its contact members b and c.

The closing of the contact members a of relay ZUR completes a self-holding circuit extending from conductor LI through conductor I06, the contact members a of relay 2UR, conductor II I, coil H5, and conductor H6 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members a of relay 2UR also completes a circuit for operating the buzzer 28 by alternating current, as long as the push button is held closed, which circuit extends from a secondary coil of transformer T through conductor 3i, buzzer 28, conductor 32, the contact'members of push button 2U, conductor I I1, the contact members a of push button relay ZUR and conductors I06, LI and 30 to the secondary coil of the transformer.

The closing of. the contact members a of relay ZUR also energizes the up signal contact segment H8 on floor selector FSA and the corresponding contact segment I I9 on floor selector FSB to prepare a circuit for lighting the stop flash lamp on the first car to approach the second floor on an up trip.

Inasmuch as car B is at the upper end of its shaft, the opening of the contact members 0 on the relay ZUR opens the circuit that energizes the night lamp relay H for car B. Upon being deenergized, relay I'I closes its contact'members and thereby completes the circuit for-lighting the down lamp BD in car B, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI through conductor I20, the contact members of relay Il, conductor I2I, down night lamp BD, conductor I22, switch I3, and conductor IE3 to supply conductor L2; 'Thereupon, the night lamp BB in car B is lighted, indicating to the attendant that he should run the car down to a registered stop call below.

As car B descends, its brush RD passes over the down contact segments under that brush.

When car B reaches the second floor on its down trip, its brush RD passes from the open portion of the circuit caused by theopen contact members 0 on relay 2UR and engages the contact segment I23, thereby completing a circuit for energizing the night lamp relay I! to extinguish ply conductor LI the down night lamp BD, which circuit extends from supply conductor LI the contact members of relay IDR, conductors I25, I 26 and I21, the brush RD, conductor I28, the coil of relay I1 and conductor I29 to supply conductor L2;

When the brush RD passes from the open portion of the circuit of relay II, the brush 0U enters the open portion of. the circuit for relay I6, thereby deenergizing relay I6 which causes the up lamp BU to be that the call is now above the car and that the car should be reversed to answer it.

The circuit for up lamp BU extends from supthrough conductor I06, the contact members of relay I6 and lamp EU to the supply conductor L2, as previously'described.

Upon noting the up lamp signal, the attendant reverses the car and starts upwardly. Thereupon, the brush MU engages the contact segment I'I-9 to light the stop flash lamp BL for the second floor up stop, by way of a circuit extending from supply conductor LI, through conductor I06, the contact members a of relay ZUR, conductors I30 and I 3| contactsegment II9, brush MU, contact strip I09, conductor 43, lamp BL and conductor I03 to supply conductor L2.

' As the car comes to a stop at the second floor in answer to the up call registered by the push button 2U, the brush NU engages the contact segment I32 thereby energizing the coil I 33' of relay ZUR to restore that relay for the purpose of cancelling the registered call and extinguishing the up signal lamp BU in car B. The circuit for the coil I33 extends from supply conductor LI through conductor I08, contact members a of relay 2UR, conductor I'I'I, coil I33, conductors I 34 and I35, contact segment I32, brush NU, contact strip H0 and conductor II4 to supply conductor L2.

The closing of the contact members 2) of the restored relay ZUR restores the circuit previously described for energizing the up. night lamp relay I6 to open its contact members and thereby extinguish the up lamp EU in car B.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided a night lamp signal system in which the attendant may be notified when a registered call exists and whereby up and down night lamps in the cars are lighted to indicate to the attendant whether the call exists above or below this car.

It will be observed also that the registration of calls both above and below the car will cause both night lamps in the car to light to indicate the existence of such callsregardless of the direction in which the car is moving.

It will also be observed that my new system may be employed with considerable advantage at any time when the cars are not being run steadily upon a prearranged dispatching system. Furthermore, it will be seen that I have provided a nigh buzzer and signal system which require comparatively fewelectri'cal conductors or wires; and which are so simple that they may be readily installed and maintained in operation.

While I have illustrated and described only one specific embodiment of my invention, I realize that it is susceptible of various modifications and I do not desire to be restricted otherwise than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floor landings, passenger-operated means for registering calls for service at the landings and means operably responthrough conductor I24;

illuminated, thus indicating sive to the position of the car for indicating directly whether a registered call is above or below the car.

2. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floor landings, passengeroperated means for registering calls for service at the landings, an above indicating device and a below indicating device on the car, and means operably responsive to the registration of a call and to the position of the car for causing said devices to indicate whether the landing at which the registered call exists is above or below the car.

In a signai system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, passenger-operated means for registering calls for service at the landings, and means operably responsive to the registration of a call and to the position and operation of the car for continuously indicating directly the existence of the registered call and the direction of the landing at which it exists with reference to the position of the car until the call is answered.

4. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floor landings, passengeroperated means for registering up calls for service at the landings, passenger-operated means for registering down calls for service at the landings, and means operably responsive to the registration of an up call for service or a down call for service and to the position of the car for indicating directly to the attendant whether registered call is above or below the car.

5. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floor landings, passengeroperated means for registering calls for service at the landings, means operably responsive to the position of the car for indicating directly whether a registered call is above or below the car, and means operably responsive to operation of the car in answering the registered call for restoring the call registering means and the indicating means to their inactive condition.

6. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floor landings, passengeroperated means for registering calls for service at the landings, an indicating device on said car, circuits for said indicating device, an up relay and a down relay disposed when deenergized to close said circuits, to operate said indicating device, circuits for maintaining said relays in energized condition, means operably responsive to the position of the car and to the call registering means for deenergizing a relay upon registration of a call for operating the indicating device to indicate whether the registered call is above or below the car.

7. In a signal system for an elevator operable past a plurality of floors, passenger operated means-for registering calls for service at the landings, a call above indicating device and a call below indicating device on the car, and means operably responsive to the registration of a call and to the position of the car for continuously operating the said indicating devices to indicate the existence of the registered call and the direction of the landing at which it exists with reference to the position of the car until the call is answered.

8. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, a passenger operated means for registering calls for up service at the floors, a call above indicating device and a call below indicating device on the 'car,and means operably responsive tothe registration of an up call and to the position of the car for operating the call above device when the car is below that floor and for operating the call below device when the car is above that floor.

9. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, passenger operated means for registering calls for down service at the floors, a call above indicating device and a call below indicating device on the car, and means operably responsive to the registration of a down call and to the position of the car for operating the call above indicating device when the car is below the floor of the registered down call, and for operating the call below indicating device when the car is above the floor of the registered down call.

10. In a signal system for an elevator car serving a plurality ,of floors; passenger operative means at each floor for registering up calls for service and down calls for service; an above signal device and a below signal'device in said car, means responsive to the operation of any passenger operative means at floors above the position of said car for operating said above signal device and responsive to the operation of any passenger operative means at'fioors below the position of said car, contemporaneous with operation of the above signal device, for operating the below signal device at the same time.

11. In a signal system for an elevator car serving a plurality of floors, a passenger operative switch at each of said floors, an above signal device and a below signal device on said car, and means responsive to an operation of any switch at a floorvabove said car for operating said above signal device and responsive to an operation of any switch at a floor below said car contemporaneous with operation of a switch above the car, for operating the below signal device at the same time, said responsive means being inefiective to operate either signal device in response to an operation of a switch at the floor at which said car is'positioned,

12. In a signal system for an elevator car operable past a plurality of floors, a passenger operative switch at each of said floors for registering calls for service, an above signal device and abelow signal device on said car, and means re-' sponsive to the operation of any switch at a floor above said car for operating said above signal device continuously while said car is below the floor corresponding to said operated switch, for discontinuing operation of said above signal device while the car is at said floor and for operating said below signal device continuously if said car continues its movement above said first 'mentioned floor without answering the call registered by said operated'switch.

13. In a signal system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors, a switch at each floor common to all the cars for registering calls ior'service, an above signal device and abe1ow signal device in' each car, means responsive to an operation of any switch for operating the below signaldevice of all cars above the floor at which the operated switch is located and for operating the above signal device of all cars below the floor at which the operated switch is located.

14. In a signal system for a plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors, a switch at each floor common to all the cars for registering calls for service, an above signal device and a below signal device in each car, means responsive to an operation of any switch for cperating'the belowsignal device of all cars above the floor at which the operated switch is located and for operating the above signal device of all cars below the floor at which the operated switch is located, and means responsive to the stopping of any car at the floor at which the operated switch is located for cancelling the signals in all cars resulting from said operated switch.

15. In a signal system fora plurality of elevator cars operable past a plurality of floors, a switch at each or" said floors common to all the cars for registering calls for service, a pair of signal devices on each car, and means responsive to the operation oi any one of the switches to operate the signal devices in each car for indicating a call in the system and for indicating whether the fioor at which the switch was oper ated is above or below the floor at which any given car is located.

16. In an elevator system for operating a car serving a plurality of floors, an up call registering device and a down call registering device for each floor, an energized above circuit and an energized below circuit, means responsive to the registration of a call for deenergizing that por-' tion of the above circuit corresponding to the floors below the registered call and for deenergizing that portion ofthe below circuit corresponding to the floors above the registered call, a signal device in the car, and means responsive to the deenergized portions of said circuits for operating the signal device in the car to indicate the direction of the floor of the registered call relative to the car. r

17 In an elevator system for operating a plurality of cars serving a plurality of floors, an up call registering device and a down call registering device for each fio0r,'an energized above circuit and an energized below circuit, means responsive to the registration of a call for deener gizing that portion of the above circuit corre sponding to the floors below the registered call and for deenergizing that portion of the below circuit corresponding to the floors above the registered call, a signal device in each car, and means responsive to the deenergized portions of the said circuit for operating the signal devices to indicate in the cars the direction of the floor oi the registered call relative to the cars.

FRANK E. LEWIS; 

